At the end of this video with John says that he will have a new album in 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh5anyrmJZM. Since we all know that anything posted on YouTube must be true I think we can accept this as fact. Seriously though I think John has been dropping hints lately about working on something. I first saw TLW in 2008 which means there hasn't been a new album the entire time I've been a fan. I think it's time.

I saw a post on Johns instagram a couple of months ago of him and Eric working on a track together, but I think now that could have been the cover song they have done for the anniversary Nada Surf album (which comes out next month)

there is an amazing interview John has had with Brett Terpstra on Systematic where he defiantly implies he already has a whole albums worth of material ready to use, its a great interview